Horse-detacher



(No Model.)

J. H. MIDDLETON.

HORSE DETAOHEK No. 266,179. Patented Oct-1'7, 1882 WITNESSES 7 INVENTOR/ N PETERS. P homuhn u mr. wan-"1 m". D.C,

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iiwrrnn STATES PATENT Qrrrcn.

JAMES H. MIDDLETON, OF CLIFTON, TENNESSEE.

7 HORSE-DETACHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 266,179, dated October 17, 1882.

Application filed April 25, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. MIDDLETON, of Clifton, in the county of Wayne and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Detachers; and I do hereby declare that the tbllowingis a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertaius to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is atop view of my improved horsedetacher. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the trace-hooks in their reversed position for detachingthe traces; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinalhorizontal section of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My .invention has relation to horse-detachers; and it consists in an improved construction of the same, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, A represents a whifiietree provided with my improved detacher. Both ends of the tree are tenoned, as shown at a a, Fig. 3, to receive cylindrical sleeves B B, of malleable iron,into which the teuons a a are inserted.

Into the outer ends of the sleeves B B are inserted the tenons c 0, of square blocks 0 C, also by preference of malleable iron, the outer ends of which are made with the trace-hooks D D.

lnto each of the blocks 0 is inserted and securely fastened thereto an iron rod, E, which extends along the back part of the tree A and sleeve B to about the middle of the former, where it is bent to form a loop or bail, E. This rod serves the twofold, purpose of reversing the blocks Owith their books and ofkeeping the several parts A, B B, and U 0 together, the bail or bent part E operating in the nature of a spring to draw on both sides of the rod, and thus cause the end blocks, 0, to bear against the sleeves B, into which they are inserted.

The cylindrical tenoned ends of the tree A and blocks C, respectively, should be of such length that they will about tneet within the sleeves B, as shown in Fig. 3.

A strap should be attached to the bail E and passed up to within easy reach of the driver, sothat by pulling the strap the position of blocks 0 with the trace-hook D may be reversed irom the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in, Fig. 2, which will enable the traces to slip off easily when occasion requires.

By the employment of the sleeves B B in the manner described, in combination with the tenoned tree A and tenoned blocks 0, I not only add to the strength and stiffness of the tree, but reduce the probability of the blocks 0 binding, because even if one or both of the blocks should bind to the sleeve B-next to it through dustor dirtentering the narrow space between them the sleeve would simply turn with the block upon the tenoned end a of the tree, thus reversing the trace-hooks as etfectnally as if the blocks turned in the sleeves.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- The improved horse-detacher herein shown and described, the same consisting of the whiffletree A, having cylindrical tenoned ends a a, cylindrical sleeves BB, and blocks 0 0, having hooks D D and cylindrical tenons c c, and rod E, fastened into said blocks and bent; at its middle part to form the bail E, all constructed and combined as specified, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES HAYWOOD MIDDLETON. Witnesses:

PETER MULRY, T. J. KINDEL. 

